IS EVERYONE COVERED BY SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY?

Everyone is not covered by the Social Security Act for disability benefits.  Why not?

The program requires that individuals work and pay into Social Security before they are covered.  You must accumulate the minimum 'quarters of coverage' of work.  Also, this work must have been performed recently enough to qualify.  Persons who stopped working more than 5 years ago may cease to be covered.

WHAT IS A QUARTER OF COVERAGE?

A quarter represents a three-month block of time on the calendar.  The first quarter begins on January 1 and ends on March 31, for example.  In 2017, a worker must earn $1,300 during a quarter to get 1 quarter of coverage.  That amount increases every year.  One quarter of coverage in 2016, for example, only required earning $1,260.  In 2015, it was even less.

HOW MANY QUARTERS DO YOU NEED?

  To receive Social Security Disability benefits, you must have earned at least 20 credits during the last ten years and you must be fully insured. Twenty credits is equivalent to twenty 3-month periods of work in which you have paid into the Social Security system and have earned enough money to secure a credit. There are exceptions to this rule for younger workers who are not old enough to have earned 20 credits of work.

QUESTIONS?

Is it possible to have insured status at one time, then lose it because of not working?  Answer:  Yes.  

How can I know if I have enough quarters of coverage (credits) to be insured for disability with Social Security?  Answer:  The best way is to call your local Social Security office and ask.

How can persons who have never worked get Social Security disability?  Answer:  They can't. *

* They might qualify for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which is administered by the Social Security Administration, but is not the same as SSDI.   SSI benefits are means tested (There are financial/resource limits) and the benefits are much lower than SSDI.